Power nail driving tool



March 8, 1960 J. L. oLLlG Erm. 2,927,324

POWER NAIL DRIVING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 23, 1956 IN VEN TOR.REUBEN V. MILLERMJOHN L.OLUG Mnavm s. HmscHuJnMEs mwrsnnom March 8, 1969J. L.. oLLlG Erm.

POWER NAIL DRIVING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y Filed Aug. 23. 1956 INVENTOR. EN V. MILLERMJOHN L OLLIG MHRVIN E HIRSCHMJHMES MWESTERHOLM FIG/OREUB BY UJJLZZL'a/rrwon, Sa/wem,

/TTORNEY nited States Patent() POWER NAIL DRIVING TOOL John L. Ollig,Reuben V. Miller, and Marvin E. Hirsch, Winsted, Minn., and James M.Westerholm, Seattle, Wash., assignors, by mesne assignments, to FirstBank of Grantsburg Application August 23, 1956, Serial No. 605,777

1 Claim. (Cl. 1-46) This invention relates to power nail driving toolsby which a multiplicity of nails may be successively fed and driven intothe work.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application,Serial Number 530,514, filed August 25, 1955.

As in our co-pending application, it is an object to provide an eicientand simplified nail-driving tool which may be readily and convenientlyemployed with a mim'- mum of skill and effort on the part of an operatorand which may be quickly and easily loaded without jamming and which ispositive in action Without reliance upon gravity feed and is adapted tobe used at any convenient angle and in relatively inaccessible cornersand places where manual hammering is impractical.

While utilizing the mean features and principles of our earlierinvention, our new nail-hammering tool provides a somewhat simplifiedand even more highly eilicient feeding mechanism which is automatic inoperation and which positively prevents any danger of the jamming ofnails even through inadvertence on the part of the operator.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a simplied andhighly improved nail-holding magazine and its cooperative relationshipwith the feeding mechanism of the tool.

Still another feature is the provision through cooperation of essentialparts, of a substantially shortened nailing tool and a better balance ofweight of the various parts thereof to facilitate handling andoperation.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the views and in which:

Fig. l is a view mostly in side elevation with some portions brolrenaway to show interior parts of our improved power nail-driving tool,showing a nail in the last stages of being driven in a piece of work,the door of the magazine being shown in dotted lines when swung to fullopen position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of our improved device wherein the rear and lowerportion of the structure is shown in side elevation and wherein most ofthe view is taken in vertical section taken substantially axially of thebarrel and feeding sleeve, in this View the barrel of the tool beingfully protracted;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation taken from the muzzle of the device with thenail detached, as indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig.l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the forward portion ofthe barrel with slots accommodating leaf spring nail-centering means;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the tool showing a nail held in thecentering means at the forward end of the barrel;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on 2,927,324Patented Mar. 8, 1960 "ice the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing thenail-receiving and centering device;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan View of the forward portion of the feedingsleeve and the barrel (with the magazine removed) and with importantnail-guiding elements appearing in full;

Fig. 8 is a cross section on a larger scale taken on the line 8 3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale showing thestructure of the torsion spring means for actuating the nail-advancingdog;

Fig. 10 is a detail axial section taken on a larger scale illustratingthe structure of a knob and retaining element for cooperation with thenail-advancing dog in the magazine; and

Fig. ll is a side elevation illustrating one embodiment of a form ofnail clip or tier of interbonded nails.

Referring now to our improved nail-hammering tool, a combined housingand handle member 13 is disposed intermediate of the ends of the tooland serves to rigidly support a forwardly extending exterior feedingsleeve 14, the rear end of which is threadedly attached as shown, to theinteriorly threaded housing portion of member 13 at 14a. A locking nut15 is applied forwardly of said housing and forcibly screwed against theforward surface of the same. The combined handle and housing 13 has arigid laterally extending pistol grip 13a with an appropriatelypositioned slidable trigger 13b conveniently mounted for manipulation bythe foreiinger of the user. At the rear of the combined handle andhousing member 13 and axially with the feed sleeve 14, a short cylinder16 is rigidly supported, being internally threaded within the housingportion of member 13 and provided with a locking collar 16a which isjammed against the rear face of the housing portion. As shown in thedrawings, Figs. 1 and 2, the pistol grip handle 13a extends laterallyand medially of the ends of the gun, balancing the weight thereof tofacilitate handling and operation.

A source of reciprocating power such as a pneumatic, electric or othermotor, is supported from the housing and handle member 13 and in theembodiment of the invention illustrated, is disposed at the rear ofmember 13 for more effectively producing a counterbalancing of the partsof the overall tool to facilitate portability and handling thereof inoperation.

In the embodiment shown, the source of reciprocating power is aconventional type of pneumatic hammer such as is made by SkilCorporation of Chicago, Illinois, with some rearrangement of airportsand valves to mount and house the hammer of the power source and most ofthe ports, valves and passages rearwardly of handle and mounting member13 and to thereby foreshorten the forwardly projecting length of thetool from the handle. To this end, a fitting 17 is secured to the outerextremity of handle pistol grip 13a and is adapted to be connected by aflexible hose with a strong source of pneumatic pressure which may beobtained from a compressor or analogous device. Fitting 17 communicateswith an upwardly extending air passage, not shown, which is controlledby a valve operated through slidable retraction of the trigger member13b. The released air passes rearwardly through the upper portion of thehandle through a fitting 18a, a horizontal pipe 18 and into a chamber19a formed laterally at one side of a header casting 19. Header 19 hasthe conventional passages therein of pneumatic hammer mechanism of theclass described and is generally of cylindrical cross section, theforward end being rigidly connected to the rear end of the cylinder 16by a heavy snap ring 20 and connection collar. Projecting forwardly fromthe front end of the casting 19 and into the rearward portion ofcylinder VVs message 16 is axially disposed, relatively shortreciprocating hammer P constituting a conventional part of thepneucationof the sleeve and barrel, in the VoperationV of theV Vtool. Y

The nail-hammering rod 22 is actuated and urged to retracted position bymeans of a forwardly tapered vor` bee-hive type of coilV spring 24which-is anchored in its rear convolutions to the forward portion ofcylinder 16 and which at its forward portion surrounds and engages a.shoulder 22a formed by an enlargement at the rear portion of the hammerrod 22 which enlargement extends .for a few inchesterminating rearwardlyin the abutment previously described which is spaced a short distanceforwardly Vof the forward end of the reciprocating hammer P.

The barrel 23 is urged forwardly to protracted position Y -Y relative tosleeve 14 by suitable means such as an elongated coil spring 25surrounding loosely the nail-hammering rod 22 and having its rear endabutted against a shoulder 14h provided near the rear extremity of feedsleeve i4 while its forward end is Vabutted against the rear extremityof the barrel 23. Thus, the barrel 23 is protracted until-the forwardend thereof is pressed by manipulation ofthe handle 13a against the workwhere the'nailing is-to be accomplished. l

Efficient-slide means are provided forY guiding the -barrel 23 in `its'longitudinal sliding' and reciprocation within sleeve 14. To this end,as shown in Figs. S and v2 and 3, a straight longitudinal slot 26 is cutthrough one side of sleeve 14 (the top, as shown in Fig. 2) and a secondsimilar slot 27 is longitudinally formed at the side of sleeve 14 (seeFig. 8), said slots terminating in abutments Yaorded by the stock of thesleeve to precisely limit forward and rearward movement of the barrelwithin the sleeve. Narrow slide blocks 28 and 29 respectively work inthe slots 26 and 27 and are rigidly affixed to the barrel 23 and to asemi-cylindrical saddle member Sila Y by suitable means such as thethreaded bolts 31. Thus,V the saddle 36a slides relative sleeve 14 alongwith the barrel 23 with which it is rigidly connected.

Saddle 30a constitutes the upper and connection portion ofnail-magazine-frame 3i) which extends laterally from the barrel 23 andsleeve 14 in the general central plane ofV kthe pistol grip 13a. Themagazine frame 30 audits connector saddle 3in1, are preferablyreinforced by two Yormore reinforcing ribs 30h (see Fig. 3) which extendtransversely of feedsleeve Vi4 and merge into the'V general exteriorsurfaces of the frame.' On the inner surface of the frame 3G, alaterally extending curved guiding 'ribV 30al is provided, disposed in`rather close spacedrelation to the rear flange 39d of the plate whichacts as a closure for the rear of the magazine. The spaced relation ofrib 30e and flange 30d contines the heads of a tier oi nails arranged ina predetermined relation, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 1l and as willbe more fully describedin detail. Additional ribs 30e are preferablyprovided'havling smooth surfaces at the same elevation as the bearingsurface of rib 36C for engaging the shank portions of a series of nailsinthe/overlapping head formation illustrated.V

A magazine door and side plate 32 is hinged along its forward edge tothe'rigid forward flange 30] of the magazine frame, being of similarconguration to the frame '30 and carrying at its free edge'a springretainer clip 32a which is adapted to engage and secure with the reariiange Sd of the magazine frame. The door plate 32 at its inner andouter edges relatively to sleeve 14 and at its free edge is angedforreinforcement and to afford accommodating depth. At Vthe interiorouter edge, as shown in Fig. l, the door is further reinforced by abar'33 which also projects slightly to interengage the ange at the outeredge ofthe magazine ,frame 30 and thereby,`to precisely'align .theopposing flange edges of the'two parts forming the magazine body. Anail-advancing-dog 34 is swingably mounted within the confines of themagazine, in the embodiment shown, being attached and pivoted upon the,`inward, forward corner of the inside of door plate 32'and being urgedVinwardly relative to sleeve 14 by suitable means such as a spirallyarranged spring 35 (see Fig. 9) having its inner end anchoredto a fixedpivot post 34aand having its outer end provided with a detent whichabuts against -a short post provided by a cylindrical `housing 36 towhich the arm of dog 34 is fixed.

Nail-advancing'dog 34 as shown, has an enlarged head 3ft-b `which isadapted as illustrated in Fig. 2 to engage Vthe medial portion of aseries of nails Vpreferably in clip formation, to normallynrge the sarneinwardly towards a nail-receiving slot S, formed appropriately.longitudinally in Vsleevefll and Ilocated adjacent to the forward endof said sleeve;

To vfacilitate outward `swinging of the nail-advancingV dog 34 and toretain the same infull open position for nail-loading, we provide a knoband retaining mechanism, illustrated Vin detail in Fig. l0. In Vtheform'shown, this mechanism comprisesja .rigid pin 37 affixed to the head3411 of the dog and extending perpendicularly to said head, andthroughanarcuate slot 32e, appropriately formed in the door plate 32 of themagazine, and extending concentric'ally'of the cylindrical housing 36 ofdog 34. Said -pin 37 at lits enlarged inner portion is slidablysurrounded by a spring-pressed retaining sleeve and knob 38 and hasattached as by a screw 39 to its Vouterextremity,

a small disc 37a of somewhat'larger diameter than the reduced outerportion 37b of the pin. Knob-sleeve 3S slidably engages Ydisc 37aand isurged inwardly-against the outer face of magazine-door plate 32 kbysuchrneans as a coil spring 39 abutted at its outer en'd'against disc37a and abutted at its inner end against an interior annular flange 33awhich surroundsrmedially the reduced portion 37b of the pin. Theenlarged inner portion of the pin 37 slides smoothly in Yslot 32C andsaid slot at its outer end terminates in van enlarged circular recess32d which is of a diameter to accommodate the knob sleeve 38, the sleevebeing pressed inwardly by spring 39 when dog 34 is swung fully outwardlythrough the medium of the knob sleeve, thereby vretaining dog 34 in fullopen position for loading of the magazine. l

' A multiplicity `of nails N for selective feeding and subsequenthammering, are arranged preferably in a peculiar tier formation asillustrated inligs. 2 and ll. As shown, the nails of Va series lie in acommon general plane with the successive heads of the nails fromoutermost position, inwardly relative to the nail yniagazine and.feeding sleeve 14 overlapping, heads being abutted against Shanks ofthe adjacent outwardly disposed nail and the tipportions of the nailsbeing substantially abutted, as clearly shown. Thus, Vthe series ofnails intier formation convergeV from their `heads to their tips and inthe magazine as described, are in most compact forni, and furthermore,:through such convergence and their advancement inwardly impelled by dog34 and guided lby arcuate rib 30C, present the innermost naillongitudinaliy of the nail-receiving slot Sin feeding sleeve it and inaslightly inclined Arelationto said slot and sleeve for subsequentfeeding and guiding Vby telescoping movement 'cf sleeve 14 over barrel23 rather than through conduits,passages ing said nails forwardly andlongitudinally fof the barrel;

for ultimately in the cycle of operation projecting a nail within thebarrel to a position to be driven and for preventing positively jammingof successive nails in the feeding and hammering operations as well asin inadvertent release of the tool during pressure-applied hammeringoperation before a nail is fully driven into place. Such mechanismcomprises a number of closely related cooperating parts which will nowbe described. To assist in the understanding of the function of saidparts, we would first state assuming the magazine loaded, whenever thebarrel 23 is fully protracted forwardly of sleeve 14, a nail (usuallythe innermost nail of the nail clip) is positioned in the receiving slotS of sleeve 14 because of inward urging on the part of nail-advancingdog 34 (see Fig. 2). Thereafter, longitudinal movement of the sleeve 14with the muzzle of the barrel 23 abutted against the work causes thesleeve 14 to telescope over the barrel 23, rst forwardly moving withsleeve 14 the forward end of the nailing rod 22 until said end pushesthe nail N-1 in Fig. 2 into centering means 45 within the forward end ofthe barrel and thereafter through very rapid hammering strokes and withapplication of further pressure longitudinally of the gun, causing thenail to be fully driven into the work.

At the same time that the foregoing hammering operation occurs, sleeve14 moves forwardly relative to the barrel 23 and an abutment S2 at therear end of the nail-receiving slot S forces the then innermost nailforwardly through certain guide slots and passages longitudinallydisposed of the sleeve and in sleeve and'barrel, until the precedingnail is fully driven, whereupon the second nail passes through alongitudinal communication passage X in the lower side of the forwardportion of the barrel as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, being disposed thenbelow and in Contact with the forward portion of the reciprocatinghammer rod 22, as shown in Fig. l. Thereafter, as feeding sleeve 14 andthe combined mounting and handle 13 are retracted longitudinally andrearwardly away from the work, the second nail is moved from itsposition shown in Fig. l into the position of the nail N-1 of Fig. 2,ready for the next hammering operation, and is moved inwardly within theaxial portion of the barrel by a multi-function spring-pressed dog 46,which is pivoted to the magazine frame 30.

Referring now to Fig. 7 which is a bottom plan view f the feeding sleeveand barrel (with the magazine, saddle 39a and of course, dog 46 removedand with the barrel fully protracted or extended), it will be seen thatthe nail-receiving slot S is a little longer than the length of nailsutilized; extends through the forward end of sleeve 14 and has anail-head-receiving enlargement S-1 at the rear end thereof, partiallydefined by a nail-headabutment S-Z which in forward movement of thesleeve 14 relative to the barrel, pushes a nail forwardly, ordinarilystripping the same from the inward end of the magazine.

The longitudinal, communication passage X in the forward portion of thebarrel is longitudinally aligned with nail-receiving slot S; is shapedin conformity to the configuration of the nails utilized with adequateclearance laterally and end-wise and includes the nail-headreceivingaperture X-1 at the rear portion thereof together with an extensionpassage or slot X-2 extending rearwardly of the opening X-l andlongitudinally aligned with slots X and S. The height of slot S(thickness of the slotted portion of sleeve 14) is slightly greater thanthe maximum diameter of the head of the nails utilized.

Rearwardly of the sleeve-nail-receiving slot S and the sharp nail-headabutment S-2, sleeve 14 is provided with a longitudinal nail-guiding andcamming rib S-3 longitudinally aligned with slot S and preferably havinga length slightly greater than the length of the nails utilized. Arearwardly inclined camming surface S-4 merges into the sharpnail-abutment S-Z at its forward portion and 6 is slightly contouredconcavely to properly guide the head of a nail in vertical alignmentwith the camming rib S-3.

The cooperative functioning of the camming rib S-3,sleeve-nail-receiving slot S and the nail-advancing mechmism of themagazine isV very important to prevent jamming of an imprisoned nail N-2(see Fig. 1) in the event that through inadvertence of the operator, afirst nail N-l is only partially driven into the work when the tool ispulled away from the work with a second nail N-2 (see Fig. 1) disposedpartially within the barrel below and in contact with the reciprocatinghammer rod 22. In such event withdrawal of the tool from the workthrough the inuence of protracting spring 25, causes sleeve 14 to moverearwardly relative to the barrel 23 and to the nail magazine affixedthereto. In such rearward movement of sleeve 14, the imprisoned nail N-Zin nail receiving slot S (see Figs. 1 and 2) is in aligned relationshipwith the normal, innermost position of the nails in the clip of themagazine. The camming rib S-3 in such rearward movement of the sleeve 14relative to barrel 23 produces an outward pressure against the top nailN of the clip of nails in magazine 30, thereby providing space forreturn of the nail N-2 in Fig. l, if such inadvertence in withdrawal ofthe tool occurs on the part of the operator.

From the foregoing explanation of the close cooperating parts andstructure of our device, it will be seen that no jamming of nails inordinary and proper operation of the tool is possible but even in-thecase of inadvertence on the part of an operator in prematurelywithdrawing the tool from the work before completing the hammeringoperation, an imprisoned nail in the slot S of the feeding sleeve cannotbe jammed with the innermost nail of the magazine.

Brief reference .has been made to the nail-centering mechanism at theouter end of the barrel 23. As illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, asatisfactory mechanism comprises a pair of leaf spring members 45anchored at their rearward ends by suitable screws 41 within slottedportions 23a of the barrel. These slotted portions inwardly defineinclined spring-engaging surfaces 42 which limit inward movement of thesprings and assist in guiding the same. The leaf springs 45 at theirforward ends are contoured to a cross sectional shape 45a ofsemi-circular configuration and cooperate as clearly shown in Fig. 6, tocenter and receive the point and forward shank of a nail axially of thebarrel 23.

The multifunction nail-guiding and actuating dog 45 is swingably mountedon a pivot screw 46a passing through the rearward end of the dog andbeing affixed to the magazine frame 30 at the rearward end thereof.Pivot screw 46a is disposed adjacent the dispensing end of the nailmagazine and medially of the width thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 1and 2. The inward and working surface of dog 46 is gradually curved fromthe pivoted end to the free end thereof. Dog 46 is urged inwardly bysuitable means such as the spiraled leaf spring 47 applying pressureagainst the outer surface of the dog at a point eccentrically of andforwardly of the pivot 46a. Inward movement of dog 46 is limited by apair of transversely aligned projections 46h which engage the outwardlongitudinal shoulders provided through the nail passage X in thebarrel.

Our nailing hammering tool is by no means limited for use with aninterbonded clip of nails, as is illustrated in one form in Fig. 11.Nevertheless, it is particularly well adapted and closely cooperateswith the overlapped head-tier relationship of nails whether bonded intoclips or loosely arranged within the magazrne.

As shown in Fig. 11, a multiplicity of nails arranged in tier formationas previously described, are interbonded by suitable frangible materialsuch as certain of the plastics or by thin coatingsA of soft or weakmetals.

Thermosetting plastics may be used `and such metals' lead alloys,Vconnnercial solder materials and ,17,0d materials commercially utilizedin metal'spraying may be 'Y employed, sprayed or applicator-applied toone or more .zones extending rtransversely of the held and arranged maybe included in each clip and the magazine comprising frame 3i) and plate32 may be of such length as to accommodate several clips. The successiveinnermost nails of the utilized clip are `successively and positivelystripped o of the remaining nails in the magazine during successiveoperations of the tool with the abutment stripper S-2 at the rear ofthenail-receiving slot S, positively engaging the head of a nail and movingthe same forwardly as the forward end of the barrelis pushed against thework, telescoping the sleeve 14 over-barrel 23.

The Aforward portion of :frame 30 Visv affixed to the barrel by a metalplate 43 .having an .outward shank portion 43u which is rigidly Vsecuredagainst the Vinner surface of the frame 3i) of the magazine. ,Plate 43has a relatively wide barrel-attaching Vportion 43b which ,ex- Vtendsthrough the open nail passage X and is welded as indicated in Fig. 3 tothe sides of the barrel dening passage X.

. Operation The functions of most of the cooperating parts have beendescribed previously in conjunction with the preceding description. v

To load the magazine, the nail-advancing, dog armY 34 is swungdownwardly by grasping Vknob handle 38 on the exterior of magazinedoorhplat'e 32V, sliding it outwardly in the arcuate slot 32e until ithas reached vextreme position in the enlargement recess 32d where thespring 3S automatically locks the dog. Magazine door 32 may then bereadily swung to Vopen position, giving complete access to the interiorof the magazine andnails Vare loaded in thefmagazine frame 30 with theVheads thereof disposed inthe groove G dened between rib 3de andthe rearflange 30d of the magazine frame with the nails pushed to innermostposition relative to sleeve 14. The door 32 may then be closed andretained by spring Vclip 32a and the sleeve Vknob 38 pulled i outwardly,releasing the sleeve lfrom aperture 32d whereafter the spiral spring 35urges the dog arm inwardly against the loaded nails. i

The barrel 23 of our nailing tool is normally protracted outwardly bythe coil spring 25 with the parts then positioned as shown in Fig. 2. `YY r[he reciprocating piston P provided by the conventional pneumaticmechanism or motor-driven mechanis'm is' purposely spaced in itsretracted position several inches rearwardly of thev retracted positionYof the hammering rod 22, as shown in Fig. 2. This is to enable topforward momentum Vof piston vP to Vbe achieved before 'impacting therear extension 22b of the hammering rod'."'The hammering rod 22 isVreciprocatedonly through a short stroke', for example betwe'envsl andi/g ofan inch. Y In utilizing the tool, the entire weight thereof may besupported from one hand of the operator by Vthe pistol grip handle 13aand the tool maybe directed downwa'rdlypupwardly'or obliquely, asdesired and may be applied in restricted corners and places where'manual hammering is practically impossible.

Y In power-hammering, the tool is advanced longitudinally against theVwork with the muzzle of barrel 23 pressed perpendicularly against thesurface of the work 'to be nailed. For structural jobs, crating, etc.,it Vis'ofte'n desirable to provide the extremity of barrel w23 withcircumferentially arranged serrations or teeth 23t to engage 1the-workand .eliminate slippingof-the barrel until drivingris begun, Vbutvthis isventirely yan elective feature.

As previously recited, longitudinal `forward movement of the tool causessleeve i4 to telescope over the barrel 23, the magazine of course havingalways a fixed relation to thebarrel since it is secured theretoandslides in the sleeve through the slide mechanism illustrated in detailinjFig. 8. e The positive stripping of a nail by th'e. abutmentS-Z atthe rear endV of Vthe nail-receiving slot S in the forward portion/ofsleeve 14 has .been described in detail. It is positive in action andwith the cooperation Vof the extension passage and groove X-2 in thebarrel,

the nailing passage VX land nail-head-receiving opening X-1 causes asecond nail to be Vforced by dog 46 into the interior of the barrel whenthe VVtool is again moved away from the work and the barrel fullyprotracted through action of the coil spring 25. In connection with thestripping and guiding of the Vnails N successively from the series, thepeculiar arrangement of the overlapping heads of the nails with the'converging of the nailsforwardly towards their points, causesgtheinnermost nail to be inclined slightly in an inward direction, asclearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby aiding in a cleancut stripping action.f Y

In Fig. 1, the nail Nf is shown almost fully driven to Vplace lwith theYsecond nail N-2 riding beneath the then reciprocating hammering rod 22and urged against the hammering rod by d og 46. Iffthe operatorinadvertently withdraws the tool from the work thinking the hammeringcompleted, which is very unusual, the centering springs 45a release fromengagement with nail N-.l and its head (leaving the nail in the work),

nail N-Z still being imprisoned within the nail-receivingv slot S Yatthe forward portion of sleeve 14.

VAs the tool continues to be` withdrawn from Vthe Work, sleeve 14retractsrrelatively tothe barrel whereby upon full withdrawal the.magazine frame 30 affixed lto the barrel is ultimately positioned inthe at rest position relative to the nail-receiving slot S of thesleeve, as shown in Fig. 2. In such movement, the slightly protrudingcurved camming surface S-3 axed to the ,Sleeve just rearwardly of thenail-receiving slot presses von the innermost nail, thereby providingspace for accommodating the imprisoned nail N-Z when the barrel Yisfully protracted to the position shown in Fig. 2. Thus, there is nopossibility of the 'head vof nail N-2 jamming against the forward pointof the innermost nail of the Vmagazine even when the operator isinadvertent inV his withdrawal of the tool from the Work. v

In conjunction with the relative movement of the nail imprisoned'in'nail-receivingslot S of the sleeve, it is desirable to provide thebarrel just rearwardly of the nail- Y receiving-opening X with theextensionY groove YX-Z which serves to guide the forward end of the nailin inclined relation upwardly and thereafter,V to receive and guide thehead of the imprisoned nail until the barrel is lfully retracted withthe head of the nail aligned with opening X-.1 and whereafter dog 45accomplishes its secondV function as shown in Fig. 2, by pushingthefnail bodily kinward through the nail passage X into the barrel.

From ,the foregoing description it will'be seen that we have Vprovided`an improved, simplified and highly eicient power nail-driving .tool ofvery Vcompact shape and structure and wherein the successive feeding ofnails is all internal in the structure as contrasted with prior artVdevices Where outwardly or laterally projecting conduits or feedingmechanism is required, furnishing obstrucposition for hammering withinthe forward portion of the barrel without any possibility of successivenails jamming even through inadvertence on the part of the operator.

Closely cooperating with nail-feeding and guiding mechanism, we providea novel and highly etcient, readily accessible magazine which is adaptedto employ loose nails disposed in a predetermined tier arrangement andwhich is particularly well adapted for supplying nails from a bondedclip or plurality of bonded clips.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

In a power nail-driving device, a tubular barrel, a nailfeeding sleeveslidably mounted on said barrel and surrounding the same, means forurging said sleeve to retracted position relative to said barrel withsaid barrel being extended beyond the forward end of said sleeve whenthe device is in rest position, an elongated hammer rod axially mountedwithin said barrel for independent reciprocating movement therein, anail magazine extending laterally of said barrel and supported therefromand having an open inner nail delivery end in juxtaposition to theexterior of said sleeve, means within said magazine for urging a seriesof nails yarranged in tier formation toward said nail delivery end andinwardly relative to said sleeve, said sleeve having a longitudinalnail-receiving slot therein registering with the nail delivery end ofsaid magazine when said sleeve is fully retracted relative to saidbarrel, said opening being defined at its rear end by an abutment forengaging and stripping 0E the innermost nail from the said magazineduring movement of said sleeve relative to said barrel, a longitudinalnail passage formed in said barrel and longitudinally aligned with saidnail-receiving slot of said sleeve and disposed forwardly thereof, and aresiliently mounted guide dog in said barrel passage for urging a connednail inwardly for ultimate axial position in said barrel ahead of saidhammer rod.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,554,128 Robertson Sept. 15, 1925 2,430,321 Anstett Nov. 4, 19472,585,941 Juilfs Feb. l19, 1952 2,671,214 Juilfs Mar. 9, 19,54;

